Halo Infinite hands-on: The return to form the franchise needed
In recent years, the Halo franchise has struggled to maintain relevancy in the multiplayer shooter space due to controversial design decisions. While Halo 4 and Halo 5 were certainly enjoyable, many fans disliked how 343 Industries placed less of an emphasis on the sandbox and focused more on special movement and combat abilities intrinsic to every player. As a result, the games didn’t appeal strongly to Halo’s core following.
In response to the fanbase’s feedback on these games, 343 Industries has pivoted to returning Halo to its sandbox-driven roots with Halo Infinite. To give players a chance to test the game, the developers have recently launched the first official Halo Infinite beta (also referred to as a technical preview) that allows them to try out the core multiplayer Arena experience against AI bots, experience weapon drills in the Academy training mode, and get a feel for the customization and battle pass systems.
Going into the beta test, I wasn’t sure what to expect with Halo Infinite. But after spending several hours with the game, I strongly believe that 343 Industries is on the right track to bring Halo back into the limelight — though I haven’t seen enough of the game to say for sure.
Halo Infinite preview: Multiplayer gameplay
Source: Microsoft
Want a precision weapon? Grab yourself a Battle Rifle or a VK78 Commando. Looking for short-range devastation? The Bulldog shotgun or the Heatwave energy weapon with two different firing modes to choose from will be right up your alley. The Plasma Pistol’s shield-piercing capabilities make it a perfect weapon to pair with a precision one for the classic “noob combo,” while the Sidekick’s quick firing rate and solid damage-per-shot make it an excellent gun to swap to when your primary weapon runs dry and you can’t afford to reload. Don’t forget the Skewer, which is a power weapon that sacrifices magazine size and reload speed for a deadly projectile that can deliver instant death to your enemies. Experimenting with the nuances of each of these weapons has been a blast so far, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the rest of the game’s arsenal.
Halo Infinite’s weapon and equipment sandbox is a joy to engage with.
Halo Infinite’s sandbox is also bolstered by the return of equipment pickups. These include items like the grappling hook you can use to traverse the map or pull weapons and the deflector shield that’s capable of reflecting projectiles back at enemies, but so far, the test has only provided players with a deployable cover shield. It’s too early to say how well balanced and useful these equipment pieces are, but I will note that I’ve enjoyed using the cover shield during the beta so far. It’s a useful tool that you can deploy in critical moments to save teammates or lock down a chokepoint, but since grenades go through the shield and sections of it can be destroyed with gunfire, it’s far from overpowered.
In terms of movement, Halo Infinite has brought sprint, clamber, and slide back from Halo 5 while getting rid of the Spartan Charge, ground pound, and thrust abilities. This is a move that I feel is ultimately for the best, as Halo 5’s “advanced mobility” focus felt like a departure from what makes Halo enjoyable. Sprint, clamber, and slide all bring fluidity to Halo Infinite’s gameplay, but the sandbox is still the star of the show.
Halo Infinite preview: Customization and battle pass
Source: Windows Central
We know that the Halo Infinite battle pass will be linked to the game’s customization, and the test version of it that was included in this preview makes me feel confident that the developers’ implementation of it will be player-friendly and geared towards earning unlocks through accomplishments instead of grinding for them. Like Halo: The Master Chief Collection before it, Halo Infinite allows players to accrue large amounts of battle pass experience by completing straightforward gameplay challenges. This system has worked tremendously in Halo: MCC, and I have faith that it will work well in Halo Infinite too.
Halo Infinite preview: Academy training mode
Source: Windows Central
The Academy is exactly what the franchise needs to help new players.
I tried out several of the weapon drills that are available during the test, and I was surprised by how impressive they were. Each weapon has three different drills that players can run, with each one increasing how difficult targets are to track and hit. Level one drills have stationary targets, level two ones have enemies that move horizontally across the arena, and level three ones have targets that strafe constantly to try and throw off your aim. Whether you’re new to Halo and want to get used to the feel of each weapon or you’re a pro that needs to keep your aim in tip-top shape, these drills will be incredibly beneficial.
The AI bots that players will battle over the course of the beta test are also technically part of the Academy experience, and they’re surprisingly competent. Compared to most games where bots are a joke, Halo Infinite’s bots put up a pretty good fight — although most players will still beat them. Only “Marine” bots are available to fight against right now, though, so I may end up eating those words when the “ODST” and “Spartan” bots show up to the party.
Halo Infinite preview: Final thoughts
Source: Windows Central
Did you get into the Halo Infinite technical preview? If so, how have you been enjoying it so far? Let me know. For more information on Halo Infinite and its beta, make sure you check out our full coverage on the Halo Infinite beta schedule as well as our list of Halo Infinite beta known bugs and launch issues. Also, make sure you read our guide on how to play the Halo Infinite beta so that you can properly sign up for the next flight if you haven’t already.
Halo Infinite is expected to launch on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, and Windows 10 (and Windows 11) PCs during the Holiday 2021 season, and may specifically launch in November based on a possible leak in a donut ad. The campaign most likely costs $60, but the multiplayer will be completely free-to-play. With any luck, it will end up being one of the best Xbox games ever.
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